What to do now?

by Terrie
(Monroe, LA)

I had a complete hysterectomy back in 2006 due to large uterine fibroids. Life since then has been a roller coaster ride. I have been reading your site and have come to the conclusion that I need more progesterone. I still have insomnia as well as hot flashes, anxiety, brain fog and concentration issues, and for the life of me, can not loose a pound.

I am currently using the topical cream through a compounding pharmacy. I am prescribed 80 mg/ml and I take 1/2 ml a day. This equate to 40 mg a day. I asked the pharmacy if this was a 3%, 10%, etc. cream. The comment that I received was that was not how they measured theirs, it was done in mg. Is prescription vs non-prescription measured differently. I guess what I am trying to figure out is exactly what amount I am taking vs what you recommend is needed. If I am prescribed 40 mg, am I getting 40 mg.

I also spoke with the nurse practitioner that prescribed the hormones for me and she said that she would be willing to prescribe 100 mg daily but no more. She indicated that if I took any more than that I was develop severe belly fat (not something I want, of course). She also indicated that I needed a 3 - 1 ratio between my estrogen and progesterone and I asked her which needed to be higher and she said the estrogen which, I know, if opposite of what you recommend.

Since the progesterone is separate from the test. and est., I can adjust easily. I have been taking 1 ml (80 mg) in the morning and 1 ml (80 mg) in the evening for the past 3 days. I believe the equates to 160 mg/day. This also means that I run out of my prescription real soon. Since I don't have insurance, I can have it refilled at any time.

Am I on the right track? I just want to feel normal and human again.

Comments for What to do now?

Hi Terrie It's such a pity a hyst is the usual advice given to women for Fibroids. They are caused by oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation. Excess oestrogen exacerbates the problem, as it's a mitogen causing cells to proliferate, plus it's an excitatory, inflammatory hormone. Both Progesterone and Vitamin D are powerful anti-proliferating agents. Studies have found vitamin D reduces fibroid growth, see here,here,here,here and here. The pharmacy could easily have told you the strength of the cream, if as you say it's 80mg/ml. This means it's 8% in strength. And if you are only using 1/2ml of cream you are only getting 40mg progesterone a day. It should also be used twice a day too, as levels begin dropping after about 13 hours. All progesterone creams are measured in mg, in fact all scientific measurements use the metric system. So I prefer to use this too as it's more accurate. People tell me they are using 1 tsp or 1/2 tsp cream, but a teaspoon varies in size from about 3ml to 6ml! A standard metric teaspoon is 5ml. Evidently the nurse practitioner knows little about hormones. Oestrogen does cause fat cells in increase, or better put, it causes subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) to proliferate. This is found under the skin. But testosterone causes visceral fat to increase, or visceral adipose tissue (VAT). This is the fat which surrounds our internal organs. So an increase in VAT causes the belly to expand, plus loss of waist occurs too, see here and here. The ratio of progesterone to oestrogen recommended by all labs varies between 100-500:1. In other words 500 progesterone to 1 oestrogen. Where she got the 1:3 ratio I have no idea! We've found from Saliva Tests we run that it's best if the ratio is 600:1. Continued below.

Sep 20, 2012

What to do now? Part 2by: Wray

Hi Terrie I'm not sure what this means..."Since the progesterone is separate from the test. and est., I can adjust easily." Are you saying you're using both oestrogen and testosterone too? If so maybe you should read our page on HRT. And these further papers on testosterone here,here,here,herehere,here,here,here and here. The amount of progesterone you're now using is good, I think it should help, but not if you're using those other two hormones too. Take care Wray

Sep 20, 2012

What to do now?by: Terrie

Thank you Wray for your response. I am currently taking both estrogen and testasterone. Or, rather, let me say, that I was. I am slowly backing off of both of those.

Also, since what I am prescribed is only 8% that means that Natpro is a higher percentage, 33.3% , is that correct? Can you tell me if I switch to Natpro, how much would I have to take per day to equal the 160 mg that I am currently taking and, how long would a tube last me? This way I will know how much to order to make sure I have a months supply. Since the nurse practitioner that I am using is not willing to prescribe more than 100mg/day I will need to make the change soon.

Thank you so much for all your help. I have been reading your site and see so many people who you have helped. I can't wait to see what the change from being estrogen dominant is going to feel like. It is so good to have someone like you on my side. Thanks again.

Sep 21, 2012

What to do now?by: Wray

Hi Terrie Bless you for the kind words. I'm pleased you are reducing the oestrogen and testosterone. The 8% cream is stronger than the Natpro, which is 3.3%, i.e. it contains 33.3mg/ml, the 8% contains 80mg/ml. So if you can get it on insurance, I'd stick to that, and maybe supplement with the Natpro if you can't get more than the 100mg/day. You would need 5ml (1tsp) Natpro to get 166mg progesterone. We do have a chart at the bottom of our page on How to use progesterone cream which gives the ml, tsp and how long a tube will last. We have been asked to make a stronger cream, but it wouldn't really reduce the cost much. The container cost is the only reduction we'd get, but that's a small fraction of the overall cost. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray

Oct 02, 2012

What to do now?by: Terrie

Wray, This past Friday, I thought I had the nurse practitioner agreeing to prescribe the 166 mg /day that I had been taking; however, on Monday after talking with the pharmacist, she changed her mind because the pharmacist was concerned that that dose was way too much. What she did was give me 200 mg/ml and my dose is 1/2 ml which is only 100 mg/day. Does the fact that it is so concentrated make it stronger? Or, is 100mg a 100mg no matter the concentration? If that is the case, I think I will have to do as you suggest and supplement with the Natpro since I can not get her to go higher. Thank you so much for your help.

Oct 05, 2012

What to do now?by: Wray

Hi Terrie Yes the 100mg is 100mg. If she had said the cream was 20% in strength, say compared to a cream of 10%, then it would make a difference. As the 20% has 200mg/ml, and the 10% has 100mg/ml. I'm actually amazed it has 200mg/ml, as we've tried making a 10% cream and find it difficult to get the progesterone to dissolve satisfactorily. Is it at all gritty? I'd be interested to hear. The composition would affect it too, possibly it has much more oil than the Natpro which would help. Does it feel greasy to you? Or better still do you know the ingredients and how much of each is used. I doubt they'll tell you, saying it's a 'propriety' blend! The Natpro is 3.3% in strength, so to get 100mg/day you would need to use 3ml of cream. Whatever you do, please use enough to keep all symptoms at bay. If the 166mg was working then don't change it. Not until you feel stable and can then reduce. Let me know how you get on. Take care Wray

Oct 06, 2012

What to do now?by: Terrie

Wray, thanks for your response. Yes, the cream is 200mg/ml and I am supposed to take 1/2 ml a day or, 100mg. I guess I am going to have to supplement with the Natpro so I can adjust the dose as needed. No it is not gritty or greasy. It goes on very smooth and absorbs right in. As for what's in it, I do not know. Today is Saturday and the pharmacy is not open today. I will call on Monday and see if they will tell me what is in it and let you know. Once again, thanks for all your help. I know several women who could definitely use Natpro and have told them to check out your site. Hopefully, you will be getting some more customers !

Oct 08, 2012

What to do now?by: Wray

Hi Terrie Well I am surprised! I would be most interested to hear what's in it, if they'll tell you of course. Thanks for doing that for me. I take it the label says nothing about the ingredients either? I feel there should always be full disclosure. There are many substances approved by the FDA or the EU for cosmetics, which I wouldn't put on my skin! And bless you for passing on the info about our site. Take care Wray

Oct 08, 2012

What to do now?by: Terrie

Wray, I did speak with the pharmacist this morning and he said that the cream they use was a "HRT vanishing cream" with progesterone in it. I told him I had a friend that had sensitive skin and did he know anymore about it than that and he said no, that he just ordered it. I have not had a chance to look it up on the internet to see if there is such a thing; however, maybe you can discuss this with who makes your cream and see if we can find out more about it. All I know is that it is very smooth, not greasy or gritty and has absolutely not smell to it. LIke I said in a previous post, they put 200mg per ml, so it is very concentrated. Thanks again for all your help and, I hope you get settled in your new house very soon.

Oct 09, 2012

What to do now?by: Wray

Hi Terrie Bless you for doing this. Interestingly this was my first experience with progesterone cream. I was getting mine from a pharmacist too, and when I asked him the ingredients he didn't know. This immediately prompted us to make our own, with full disclosure! Vanishing cream is an old fashioned term meaning it goes into the skin, without leaving a greasy feel. There are several bases that can be used, but no site will give the ingredients. I know many contain petroleum products, but some don't. So it leaves us no better off! Thanks of much for trying for me. Ah yes, moving house, I seem to do it with monotonous regularity, 10 times in the last 10 years, a bit too frequent, even for me. But thanks for enquiring, I can at least find things now! Take care Wray

Oct 20, 2012

What to do now?by: Terrie

Wray, I think that time has come that I need to order Natpro. I have seen on previous posts that you give a 30% discount on 20 tubes, as well as that some women share the cost. Is there anyway to find out if there is someone else in my area that would like to cost share? Thanks for your help.

Oct 23, 2012

What to do now?by: Wray

Hi Terrie Yes we do give a 30% discount on 20 tubes, and many do share. Or have their whole family on it, including husbands! We can't disclose email addresses, so I think the best thing would be to put into our search field the terms LA and Los Angeles. I've found 2 pages for each. Clicking on the link you can read the comment from the person, and possibly send a query to that page via the comments box, and addressed to the name or subject title the person has given. I will ask the webmaster if there's another way of going about it. Take care Wray

Oct 23, 2013

NATPRO Shortageby: Terrie

Wray, I have been trying to order NATPRO for several weeks now. Since I use 400 mg a day, I usually order 20 tubes at a time. For a couple of weeks you could not order any more than 5 tubes at a time. I didn't want to do this because the cost is more per tube so, I waited to see if stock would replenish so I could order 20 tubes. But, for 2 weeks now, you can not even order 1 tube. I have received a couple of e-mails from Joy, the latest last week saying Natpro should have arrived Thursday or Friday of last week. This is now Wednesday 10/23 at 7:21 a.m. and you till can not order. I am on my last tube and, have been rationing and not using my 400mg a day due to the shortage and I can definitely tell because the hot flashes are coming back. I NEED MY NATPRO, LOL. Any idea when supply will be replenished?

Joy suggested other brands but, I read the ingredients in them and are not happy with them and do not want to go that route. Please tell me Natpro is coming again, SOON.

Thanks.

Oct 31, 2013

NATPRO Shortageby: Wray

Hi Terrie It is coming in soon. In fact it's been coming in almost every day, but it seems people are checking hourly because as soon as it gets in it's gone. We've had people ordering 30, 40 and more tubes each order, multiply that by the number of people wanting, and it wipes out the stock. The orders department told me one person sat on the site and kept adding tubes until the stock out notice popped up! They had clocked up 71 tubes. I do understand about other creams. There is only one I would recommend and that's Progesterall as it has no nasties in it. But it is half the strength, so double the amount of cream would be needed. I know how you feel, it stresses me as much as you. We doubled our production last month, and we still haven't caught up a month later. We're doubling again this month and next, hopefully it will iron out soon. Take care Wray

Nov 02, 2013

Natpro Shortgageby: Terrie

Thanks for responding. I did finally get to order. However, I usually order 20 tubes at a time and, since the removal of the discount on 20 tubes or more, I could only afford 10 tubes this time. And, at 400mg a day, I know I will have to reorder again in about 6 weeks. Do you think the discount for 20 tubes or more will be put back in place and, if so, when?

Nov 04, 2013

Natpro Shortgageby: Wray

Hi Terrie I do know the discount will be back, but only once there’s plentiful stock available. When that will be I don’t know. So many people seem to be ordering right now, it’s depleting stock very quickly. Take care Wray

Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.